Kazakhstan's NPP: Competition Welcomed

The head of the Ministry of Energy, Satkaliyev, returned from China, Orda reports.

He was on a working visit to China, where he discussed, among other things, the prospects for constructing a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.

France, South Korea, and Russia have also expressed interest in participating.

There is lively "bargaining" afoot.

As the Ministry of Energy reported, Satkaliyev discussed cooperation with his Chinese colleagues in nuclear energy, oil and gas, electric power, and renewable energy.

The Chinese side expressed a high degree of readiness to support Kazakhstan in the implementation of the project to build a nuclear power plant. Almasadam Satkaliyev also held talks with a potential supplier of nuclear technology, included in the 'short list,' the CEO of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the Ministry reported.

Kazakhstan's delegation studied Chinese experience at the Zhangzhou NPP under construction, the uranium conversion and enrichment plant, and the Shanghai Electric Corporation bases.

It may seem that Satkaliyev's visit to China signals agreements. However, earlier, the Minister of Energy visited South Korea, where he assessed the potential of the KHNP contractor.

Both France has demonstrated interest as well.

Read also:

• Kazakhstan's NPP: French Company Currently in Astana
• Kazakhstan's NPP: Rosatom Ready for Cooperation – Putin
• Bektenov Met with Rosatom Head

Political scientist Gaziz Abishev notes that several countries are actively competing. 

Vladimir Putin and Valentina Matviyenko's "advertising" of Rosatom in succession is another explicit example.

Kazakhstan is also demonstrating it will become a reliable platform for using modern technologies in the nuclear industry.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Satkaliyev has visited South Korea, France and now China in the last few weeks. Discussing the 'nuclear matter.' Such activity in all directions is also a kind of bargaining. So that all participants in the competition understand that they are not the only ones on the market. And offer the most acceptable conditions for Kazakhstan. Portfolios with specific proposals from competitors are good arguments in a calm, constructive, depoliticized discussion with a potential vendor Abishev writes.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny